[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3677 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3677
To amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to improve
United States-Israel energy cooperation, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 9, 2013
Mr. Upton (for himself, Mr. Waxman, Mr. Terry, Mr. Gene Green of Texas,
and Mr. Bilirakis) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to improve
United States-Israel energy cooperation, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. UNITED STATES-ISRAEL ENERGY COOPERATION.
(a) Findings.--Section 917(a) of the Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``renewable'' and
inserting ``covered'';
(2) in paragraph (4)--
(A) by striking ``possible many'' and inserting
``possible--
``(A) many'';
(B) by inserting ``and'' after the semicolon at the
end; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) significant contributions to the development
of renewable energy and energy efficiency through the
established programs of the United States-Israel
Binational Industrial Research and Development
Foundation and the United States-Israel Binational
Science Foundation;'';
(3) in paragraph (6)--
(A) by striking ``renewable'' and inserting
``covered''; and
(B) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon at the
end;
(4) in paragraph (7)--
(A) by striking ``renewable'' and inserting
``covered''; and
(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting
a semicolon; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) United States-Israel energy cooperation, and the
development of natural resources by Israel, are strategic
interests of the United States;
``(9) Israel is a strategic partner of the United States in
water technology;
``(10) the United States can play a role in assisting
Israel with regional safety and security issues;
``(11) the National Science Foundation of the United States
should collaborate with the Israel Science Foundation;
``(12) the United States and Israel should strive to
develop more robust academic cooperation in energy innovation
technology and engineering, water science, technology transfer,
and analysis of geopolitical implications of new natural
resource development and associated areas;
``(13) the United States supports the goals of the
Alternative Fuels Administration of Israel;
``(14) the United States strongly urges open dialogue and
continued mechanisms for regular engagement and encourages
further cooperation between applicable departments, agencies,
ministries, institutions of higher education, and the private
sectors of the United States and Israel on energy security
issues, including--
``(A) identifying policy priorities associated with
the development of natural resources of Israel;
``(B) discussing best practices to secure cyber
energy infrastructure;
``(C) best practice sharing;
``(D) leveraging natural gas to positively impact
regional stability;
``(E) improving energy efficiency and the overall
performance of water technologies through research and
development in water desalination, wastewater treatment
and reclamation, and other water treatment
technologies;
``(F) technical and environmental management of
deep-water exploration and production;
``(G) coastal protection and restoration;
``(H) academic outreach and engagement;
``(I) private sector and business development
engagement;
``(J) regulatory consultations;
``(K) leveraging alternative transportation fuels
and technologies; and
``(L) any other areas determined appropriate by the
United States and Israel;
``(15) the United States acknowledges the achievements and
importance of the United States-Israel Binational Industrial
Research and Development Foundation and the United States-
Israel Binational Science Foundation and supports continued
multiyear funding to ensure the continuity of the programs of
the Foundations; and
``(16) the United States and Israel have a shared interest
in addressing their immediate, near-term, and long-term energy
and environmental challenges.''.
(b) Establishment.--Section 917(b)(1) of the Energy Independence
and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337(b)(1)) is amended by striking
``renewable energy or energy efficiency'' and inserting ``covered
energy''.
(c) Types of Energy.--Section 917(b)(2) of the Energy Independence
and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337(b)(2)) is amended--
(1) in the heading, by striking ``Types of'' and inserting
``Covered'';
(2) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon at the end;
(3) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(H) natural gas energy, including conventional
and unconventional natural gas technologies and natural
gas projects conducted by or in conjunction with the
United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation, the
United States-Israel Binational Industrial Research and
Development Foundation, and the United States-Israel
Science and Technology Foundation; and
``(I) improvement of energy efficiency and the
overall performance of water technologies through
research and development in water desalination,
wastewater treatment and reclamation, and other water
treatment technologies.''.
(d) Eligible Applicants.--Section 917(b)(3) of the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337(b)(3)) is
amended by striking ``energy efficiency or renewable'' and inserting
``covered''.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations; International Partnerships.--
Section 917 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42
U.S.C. 17337) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (d);
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (e); and
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
``(c) International Partnerships.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may, subject to the
availability of appropriations, enter into cooperative
agreements supporting and enhancing dialogue and planning
involving international partnerships between the Department,
including National Laboratories of the Department, and the
Government of Israel and its ministries, offices, and
institutions.
``(2) Federal share.--The Secretary may not pay more than
50 percent of the costs described in paragraph (1).
``(3) Annual reports.--The Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate an annual report that describes--
``(A) actions taken to carry out this subsection;
and
``(B) any projects under this subsection for which
the Secretary requests funding.
``(d) United States-Israel Center.--The Secretary may establish a
joint United States-Israel Center based in an area of the United States
with the experience, knowledge, and expertise in offshore energy
development to further dialogue and collaboration to develop more
robust academic cooperation in energy innovation technology and
engineering, water science, technology transfer, and analysis of
geopolitical implications of new natural resource development and
associated areas.''.
(f) Termination.--Subsection (e) of section 917 of the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337) (as
redesignated by subsection (d)(2)) is amended by striking ``the date
that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act'' and inserting
``September 30, 2024''.
SEC. 2. UNITED STATES-ISRAEL ENERGY COOPERATION WORKING GROUP.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that open
dialogue and continued mechanisms for regular engagement encourages
further cooperation between applicable departments, agencies,
ministries, institutions of higher education, and the private sectors
of the United States and Israel on energy security issues.
(b) Establishment.--The Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of
State shall seek to establish an Energy Cooperation Working Group
within the semi-annual United States-Israel Strategic Dialogue.
(c) Purpose.--The purpose of the Energy Cooperation Working Group
referred to in subsection (b) shall be to strengthen dialogue between
the United States and Israel on--
(1) strategies to advance the research, development, and
deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency;
(2) identifying policy priorities associated with the
development of the natural resources of Israel;
(3) best practices for energy infrastructure cybersecurity;
(4) leveraging natural gas resources to positively impact
regional stability;
(5) technical and environmental management of deep-water
exploration and production; and
(6) coastal protection and restoration.
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